PRO WRESTLING: NXT part of ‘WWE 2K15’ video game

Those words can be found on a banner hanging on the wall in the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

Those who train at the facility see it every day, serving as motivation to progress and work hard if they want to land on the main roster. Now fans can get a sense of the complete journey and competitiveness of a modern-day superstar starting with the Performance Center and NXT in the “WWE 2K15” video game’s MyCareer mode.

Developers have never been shy on detail, and this takes it a step further. Similar to what really goes on, gamers will start at the Performance Center to hone their skills with Coach Bill DeMott. From there the next step is making it on NXT to compete against the likes of Corey Graves, Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville. The trio is making their debut in the popular WWE video game franchise. Your own created grappler has to contend with whatever general manager William Regal cooks up. The goal is to impress Triple H enough to get the call of a lifetime.

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From there, you put everything you learned to the test against full-fledged WWE superstars on Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-views. Of course, there will be twists and turns along the way to championship glory, WrestleMania and a Hall of Fame induction.

Never before has any part of WWE’s development system really been in the video games, so this is an exciting development. It’s also a huge milestone for a select group of NXT performers.

The company has invested in the future with its Performance Center. Thanks to “WWE 2K15,” they can show it off and create awareness of the NXT brand. There isn’t any doubt the game is a prime opportunity to draw more eyes to one of the best in-ring pro wrestling shows around.

The latest example proving this, as Tyson Kidd would say as “fact”, came during the recent tapings for NXT programming found on the WWE Network. Full Sail Live on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park serves as the ideal venue to showcase the present and future of sports entertainment.

It’s where athletes such as Tyler Breeze, Sasha Banks, NXT divas’ champion Charlotte, NXT champ Neville and Zayn often compete more than once in a night for future episodes. With every match they give 110 percent, and you see their desire shine through. The same feeling is evident in not only the superstars and divas, but the production staff made up of WWE employees and Full Sail students getting hands-on experience.

The inclusion of NXT in the “WWE2K15” video game helps expand the brand in a unique way. I get the feeling it’s only the beginning. Exciting times are ahead.

▪ “WWE 2K15” will be available Oct. 28 in North America and Oct. 31 internationally for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Those with next-generation systems will have to wait until Nov. 18 in North America and Nov. 21 internationally.

▪ WWE superstar Seth Rollins returns where his WWE journey began when he appears at the next NXT television taping on Oct. 23 at Full Sail Live at Full Sail University. Meet & Greet is at 4 p.m. Bell time is 6:30 p.m.